How much faster are track day tires compared to the best road tires? The German publication Sport Auto have produced the answer by taking seven of the best maximum performance road tires and three of the best track day tires, and placing them all through the same testing on a Toyota GT86 (225/40 R18).
Road VS Trackday Tires
The Toyota GT86 isn't the most powerful of cars, with the 2 liter NA engine producing just 197 bhp. This means the car won't take advantage of the higher grip levels of semi slicks as much as a more powerful heavy car, but the increase in performance was still noticeable.
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 100 % | |
| 100 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 96 % |
The difference between best and worst was 4%.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire was the fastest semi slick in the dry lapping the handling course with an average speed of 54.1 mph, an average of 1 mph faster than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4.
Dry Braking
Dry braking in feet
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 88 % |
The difference between best and worst was 12%.
Dry braking is a key advantage for track day tires, which have a softer compound and less tread pattern to increase the tires contact patch with the road. The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R proved best in this test, stopping the Toyota in 108 feet, where the road Pirelli P Zero took a further 8 feet, stopping the car in 115 feet. The biggest surprise of the dry braking test wasn't the advantage of the semi slick tires, but that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 matched the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, both stopping the car in 113 feet, an impressive result for the road bias Michelin.
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 86 % | |
| 85 % |
The difference between best and worst was 15%.
Wet testing brings the advantage back to the road tires. All three semi slick tires finished at the bottom of the wet handling and aquaplaning tests, with the Michelin track day tire proving to be the most useful in the tests. Still not a tire we'd want to fit for year round use in the UK.
Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 87 % | |
| 82 % | |
| 81 % |
The difference between best and worst was 19%.
The wet braking tests reversed the dry braking tests, with the test winning Toyo Proxes Sport stopping the GT86 in 105 feet from 50 mph, where the Toyo R888R track day tire took a further 8 feet, stopping in 113 feet.
The comfort, noise and rolling resistance tests were again dominated by the road tires, with the track day tires giving up noise and comfort for increased steering precision and speed.
The Results
Please note, due to limitations in our database, we've had to group the track day and "normal" tires together in the overall results. In the magazine they were rated separate, but they did undergo the same tests.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Toyo R888 R
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise —
Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Continental Sport Contact 5
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Toyo Proxes Sport
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise — Kumho Ecsta PS91
225/40 R18
All discipline results (5)
Test % Dry — Wet — Comfort — Rolling Resistance — Noise —
Maybe im not reading it right but on each graph how can you tell which tire is which ? I cannot see any names on the left hand side ?
Sorry, there was an error with the database. This has now been fixed :)
In your listing (& with other tests like the AutoBild one), would you be able to make clear whether the "L" or "S" version of the PZ4 is being tested. (In each case, the picture is of the "L" version, which seems implausible.) I also suggest a quite separate PZ4 review page to avoid confusion with past generation P Zeros.
It's a good suggestion and something we've been meaning to do, it's just working out the best way of doing so.
Pirelli haven't done anyone any favors with the P Zero PZ4 naming!
Two observations, both wet braking focused:
First, the T001 has clearly undergone some mid-life modification of some sort (compounding?).
Second, note that the R888R is slightlybetter than the estimable SC5. It seems to me to be the pick of the track day tires despite its reported wet handling nervousness (which could probably be ameliorated by some judicious tire pressure tuning of the handling balance).
We suspect the T001 tested is the T001 EVO which has had a significant mid life update and now has wet grip. Just waiting for confirmation, Bridgestone confused the matter by not printing EVO on the sidewall of the new tire, just the label.
yep
(it was never bad laterally but braking in the wet seemed decidedly weak in most tests)
now all they have to do is make the tread stabler under lateral load in the dry
what's your unpacking of the "nervous" wet handling comment on the R888R?
Eh?
The Cup 2 scored higher than the R888R & the Trofeo R, yet it came 3rd??? Please explain...
An extreme weighting on the dry scoring.
I'm not sure I agree either, but this is Sport Autos test.
Ah, ok. Thanks...